The Thais have a knack for bluntness.  Recently at a restaurant we frequent the owner came up to me and said “Last year when you come, you fat, now you slim, body like Miss Universe”.  That’s a direct quote. I’m thinking I should just take the Miss Universe compliment and run!

I know some of this bluntness comes from the language barrier.  When you are not fluent in a language you often sound more blunt than you intend because you don’t know the nuances of the language.  This was likely the case this time and Mr. Restaurant did mean it as a compliment.  And he’s right, I have shed a few pounds since my last trip here, but I didn’t think he’d notice?

But his comment got me thinking about how Thai’s really do often ‘say it as it is’.  I’ve seen a girl looking for someone and ask me “Have you seen my friend, she’s fat and has short hair”.  It’s not an insult, it’s just a description.

I think this may come from one of the Thai cultural aspects I truly admire.  They seem to be able to laugh at themselves. They don’t take life too seriously.  Thailand is known as The Land of Smiles.  And I think it’s well earned.  The people naturally smile a lot.  And genuinely so.

They also laugh a lot.  In a group they will often laugh at someone, but it has feeling of ‘laughing with them’ not ‘at them’.

This is a picture I took last year at a political protest in Bangkok.  

This light-hearted approach is a truly refreshing view on life.  Maybe if I can laugh at myself more, and worry about the judgments of others less; I can feel less stress in my life?  It’s a good idea because this ‘Ms. Universe body’ is not going to last long, I love Thai food so much I’m eating pretty much constantly.  Soon Mr. Restaurant will see me and say ‘What happen, now you get more fat again?” and you know what, I can just laugh right along with him!! 

When I'm in Bangkok I try to find a spare hour to wonder around the flower market.  It's about 5 blocks long and 2 blocks wide of shops and street vendors selling only flowers.  Surrounded by millions of blossoms; being in the middle of it is almost fairy tale-like. When I was there a few days ago it was late afternoon and the flowers were arriving by the truck-load for the evening market.  Truck after truck full of flowers.  Petite roses to orchids, to lotus, to long stem roses that standing came up to my chest. 
Bangkok, by global terms, is not a really dirty city but compared to Canada it definitely has a grungy factor.  It's not uncommon to be hit with a waft of urine that almost makes your eyes water when you step over a sewer grate. (Even the locals are seen covering their nose with their shirt sleeve.)  Walking through the flower market you're transported to a magical place of beautiful colours and scents. 

Many of these flowers are destined for hotels, restaurants and spas as decor.  You'll often get an orchid (that at home is so extravagant)  as a garnish on your cocktail. If I lived here, I'd have fresh blooms in my home all the time (you wouldn't believe how cheap it is!)

In Thailand, flowers are more than just beauty and aroma. They represent a part of the Buddhist culture. Everyday thousands of blooms will be given as offerings at temples.  Many will also be used to show respect for ancestors long gone. 

At stops along the way women will come up to the truck with snacks and drinks to sell. This woman had whole BBQ chicken on a stick.  (that’s the feet at the top).  The flies and the ants on it probably indicate it is not too safe for ‘foreign stomachs’.

This is the ferry that took us to the island.

With all the different islands, the river is wide and slow in some spots and faster with rapids in others.

Here, the other side of the river is Cambodia.

It was pretty hot, 30-34C, and the water can looking inviting for cooling off. Not sure I'd want to float into a water buffalo who also like to cool off in the river with just their heads above water. (not to mention the Mekong is known for it's river flukes.)

These kids were having a blast paying with this boat.  No clothes and, at this moment, no worries.  Truly kids being kids, no video games or tvs in sight.  

Laos is about 60% Buddhist. The remaining practice animism or ancestry worship and a very small minority are Christians and Muslims  This is the entrance to a Buddhist temple.  This temple was built on the site of a Khmer temple,  you can still see some of the ruins of the original 1000+ year old temple.

Laos was occupied by the French from the late 1800's until it was given independence in 1953.  Some French Colonial buildings are still around, most in ruins like this one. The local school is located behind this building so the kids were playing games out front.


Since Independence Laos has struggled politically and financially and is officially a communist country.  Laos holds a record not to be proud of.  It is the most bombed country in the world.  During the Vietnam war Northern Laos was heavily bombed. According to official figures, the US dropped 2,093,100 tons of bombs on 580,944 sorties. The total cost was US$7.2 billion, or US$2 million a day for nine years. (wow)

As with most undeveloped countries people are usually quite industrious.  This man is 'sewing' his fishing net.  I also found the hammock ,made from a single piece of bamboo, pretty ingenious.

The traditional fishing method on this part of the Mekong is to stand at the front of a small boat and throw a net with a weighted edge out into the water, then gather it in; hopefully with a fish or 2 caught in it.  I can only imagine it take a bit of practice to be able to throw the net and be successful.

These women are peeling yaro to dry for food.

The yaro laid out on the ground to dry.  A safe (?) distance has been left around the water buffalo paddy.  yum?

Sunset on the Mekong River.  

Seeing new sites, meeting new people, experiencing new food and seeing first hand local traditions.  To me, the best part of any trip.

On arriving in Bangkok I usually have one thing on my mind; some sleep is usually needed after the long trip from Canada; but first, FOOD.  It’s hard to go anywhere in Bangkok and not be surrounded by the aromas of various food.  Thai’s are fantastic at cooking up amazing dishes in a flash.  Bangkok is well known for it’s Street Food.  Which generally refers to vendors with carts that each specialize in one item or dish. 

A typical street food stall selling noodle soup with chicken.

One of my favorite places to eat in Bangkok is not quite street food, but also, it’s not really a restaurant.  These on-the-spot-eateries, often set up at night, turn a street corner into a make-shift restaurant.  Plastic stools and tables will start to be pulled out just before dusk (around 5pm) and the cooking will be done at a mobile kitchen.  One I love to visit we affectingly call the ‘7-11 Restaurant’ because it is on the corner where a 7-11 convenience store is.  It’s a short walk from our hotel and is open late into the night.  They always have an array of Thai dishes ready.  And several on the go.

It’s run by a group of 4 guys who look younger than they likely are.  They are slammin’ busy every night and for good reason, they just keep pumping out the amazing food. 

      Multi tasking   :)

 The dishes are displayed in trays on the cart, You just start pointing at what looks good and they start dishing it up.  Of course served with rice.  One of my favorites is panang curry with pork.  The best panang curry I’ve had!  They also make this amazing pork with green beans in a sweet-hot chili sauce.  The last time I had Thai green curry from these guys I think I burnt a whole layer of my stomach lining off.  But it was SO GOOD!
A meal for 2 people with 3 dishes, and rice costs about $3 CND.

Sounds super cheap, but depending on your comfort level there is some compromise. You are literally sitting on the street on a plastic stool.  If a large vehicle comes by you may have to get up and move your table over to let it through.  And likely all of the exhaust fumes don’t do us much good, but the air quality in Bangkok sucks anyway.  To me these are small compromises and the people watching is also great entertainment.

When you’re having your meal and your lips are about to fall off from the heat you’ll likely need a cold beer.  These guys won’t sell you one, they tell you to just go into the 7-11 and get yourself one.  So, in addition to great food, you get beer with no mark up. Cool.

I've had the privilege to travel to other countries.  I have observed and experienced the lives of others.  Sometimes I am hit with an overwhelming thankfulness for being Canadian.  Something I had no role in deciding.  Was it luck that I was born here and not in a grass hut in rural India?  
Are there things that could be improved in Canada?  Sure!  Our country is far from perfect. But it is a REALLY great place to live.  Sick?  Walk into a hospital and someone will help you without first asking if you can pay the bill.  Need to commune with nature?  Even if you live in the biggest Canadian city a pristine natural experience is only few hours drive away.  Truly amazing!  

A picture from Lower Beverly Lake, less than 5 minutes from The Gecko.

When you travel through other countries.  "Where are you from?" is a standard question.   It's a way of people assessing you.  I am always very proud to say "I am Canadian."   Usually you are asked for your country even before your name. Actually, often you're never asked your name and are referred to as 'the Canadian' by 'the German'. 
I hope today everyone in my country stops for a moment to be Happy to be Canadian.  I know I am!